Studies show that from birth to age 6, children’s brains are developing at a phenomenal rate. They absorb knowledge quickly and easily, and are endlessly curious about life. Maria Montessori called stages of development like this “sensitive periods,” in which children are especially energized to learn. Giving your child many opportunities to explore their world is vital at such stages of their development.
During the sensitive period of ages 3 to 6, a child makes tremendous strides in the areas of sensory exploration, language, mathematics and practical life. At Primary Montessori, we provide appealing, exploratory learning opportunities through an interactive, self-paced, stimulating curriculum that concentrates on these four key areas:
Practical Life
Preschool children are immersed in learning the skills of daily living. They seek both the reassurance of order and the satisfaction of independence. The Montessori approach augments this process through its Practical Life materials, which help the child find success at home and in the classroom. Your child will have opportunities to:
- Engage in activities that challenge them to develop coordination, such as balancing, carrying objects and playing movement games
- Practice their fine motor skills through activities such as drawing
- Enjoy handling small objects as they improve their hand-eye coordination
- Hone their concentration skills
- Work at their own pace
- Learn how to care for themselves and their environment
- Develop grace, courtesy and other social skills
Sensory Exploration
Young children are particularly drawn to exploring their world through the five senses. They actively look for ways to understand their experiences, especially through the use of their hands, which is a powerful way for them to consolidate new information. In the Montessori classroom, we help children pursue discovering the world in sensory ways by encouraging them to:
- Explore and experiment with the elements of their environment physically
- Enjoy hands-on activities that help them learn
- Evaluate objects and notice their similarities and differences, including a host of physical characteristics such as color, shape, feel, size and weight
- Make their sensory experiences more meaningful by learning to use clear, descriptive words such as loud, soft, long, short, rough, smooth, heavy and light
- Engage in a variety of other enrichment activities
Language
Between ages 3 and 6, children enjoy a significant blooming in the acquisition of language. It is a time when they develop key understandings about how to put something they are experiencing into words, as well as an ideal period to start learning a second language. To support the development of language skills, the Montessori classroom encourages children to:
- Engage in all language development skills, such as reading, writing and spelling
- Refine their command of words through songs, word games, poetry, stories and language cards
- Prepare for future writing tasks through practical development of the use of pencils, writing letters and more
- Practice the ability to identify and properly pronounce the sounds of speech
- Learn to recognize the alphabet through seeing, hearing and physically tracing letters
- Engage in creative use of words
- Read books to themselves and others
Mathematics
Preschool-aged children are very much drawn to concepts of basic mathematics, such as counting, reasoning, calculating and estimating. As they practice the use of these basic, concrete numerical skills, they build a proper foundation for more abstract mathematical concepts in later years of their education. The Montessori classroom provides concrete mathematical learning opportunities that encourage young children to:
- Physically explore and identify the concepts of more and less
- Learn the uses and functions of numbers
- Practice basics such as counting, adding and subtracting through hands-on activities
- Enjoy the process of learning ever more complex mathematical concepts that build on one another
- Engage in music, which is an excellent way to develop math skills and spatial intelligence as well as musical skills
Giving Your Child the Tools for Success
Lessons learned during a child’s sensitive period of ages 3 to 6 are powerful and long-lasting. For that reason, it’s vital to give your preschool aged child opportunities to learn in a supportive, interactive environment. To learn more about how Primary Montessori’s primary program can benefit your child, contact us to schedule a tour. Limited spaces are available for the 2017–2018 school year, so act today and get your child started on a path to educational and life success.